Association between self-reported physical activity and obesity among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans: 2007 and 2009 brfss.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between self-reported leisure-time moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and obesity among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. METHODS: We analyzed data from 569,816 Whites, 54,521 Blacks, 44,864 Hispanics, and 11,232 Asians aged 18 to 79 years who participated in the 2007 and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Physical activity, height, weight, and demographic data were self-reported through telephone interviews. MVPA level was categorized into inactive, low, medium, and high, and weight status into normal-weight, overweight, and obese based on body mass index. Race/ethnicity-, sex-, and age group-specific polytomous logistic regression analysis was conducted, adjusted for age, education, and income. RESULTS: There was an inverse association between self-reported MVPA and obesity among White men and women (Ps for trend <.0001). Black and Hispanic women also presented an inverse association (Ps for trend <.0001), although the association was weaker compared to White women. In Asians, no association between self-reported MVPA and obesity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Weak or no association observed between self-reported MVPA and obesity in minority groups may: 1) suggest that other factors than MVPA play more critical roles in determining weight status in minority groups, or 2) reflect large measurement errors of self-report data in minority groups.

The mediating role of parent-child bonding to prevent adolescent alcohol abuse among Asian American families.

The purpose of this paper is to describe unique culturally-based factors that may increase the vulnerability of Asian American adolescents to engage in alcohol use and abuse and the role of parent-child bonding as a protective factor. In particular, this paper addresses the interactions among acculturation, alcohol use, and parent-child bonding and the challenges Asian American families face in strengthening parent-child bonds. We begin by examining likely causes for alienation that occur as a result of immigration to the United States. We then present the cultural context of Asian American families that can also serve to create distance between parent and child, including the contrasting cultural orientations of individualism and collectivism, Asian traditional values, differences in Eastern and Western parenting styles, and intergenerational cultural dissonance. Next, we present a review of the research that has examined acculturation as a risk factor for alcohol use and abuse among Asian American adolescents, with special attention to the mediating role of parent-child bonding. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for future research on the risk and protective factors for adolescent substance abuse, as well as other risky health behaviors among the growing population of Asian Americans in the United States.

Comparison of physical activity levels between cancer survivors and non-cancer participants in the 2009 BRFSS.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to compare physical activity (PA) levels between cancer survivors and those without cancer diagnosis (non-cancer participants). METHODS: Using data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we conducted secondary data analysis to compare PA between 31,078 cancer survivors with history of single-site cancer diagnosis at least 2 years prior to the survey, including cancer survivors of prostate [n = 2,951], female breast [n = 5,695], colon [n = 1,436], cervix [n = 2,211], endometrium [n = 1,080], and ovary [n = 732], and 235,351 non-cancer participants between 40 and 79 years of age. Self-reported PA and cancer history data were collected through telephone interviews. Weekly moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA levels were calculated in moderate-to-intensity physical activity equivalent (MIE). Least-squares means of MIE were obtained from sex, age groups (40-64 years [middle-aged] and 65-79 years [older]), and cancer site-specific multivariable linear regression models, adjusting for age, age(2), race/ethnicity, household income, and education. RESULTS: Prostate cancer survivors reported participating in approximately 20 min/week more MIE, compared to their non-cancer counterparts (P < 0.10 for the middle-aged group; P < 0.01 for the older group). Middle-aged cervical and endometrial cancer survivors reported approximately 10 min/week less MIE (P < 0.05 and P < 0.15, respectively). Adjusted means of MIE were not different between cancer survivors of colon, female breast, or ovary and non-cancer participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates higher PA levels among prostate cancer survivors and lower PA levels among middle-aged cervical and endometrial cancer survivors, compared to sex- and age group-matched general populations.